, In most countries, age restrictions on certain activities, products, and services are
imposed on young people. Evaluate whether these are always necessary.
Cambridge AS-Level English General Paper (8021) Specimen Paper 1 2019 (784 words)
In our modern-day society, there are clear distinctions made between what youths can't do
and what adults can do. These distinctions are primarily made by means of age
restrictions on certain activities such as drinking alcohol, smoking, watching certain films,
etc. However, these restrictions aren't always fully effective, thereby prompting an
evaluation of the need for minimum ages in the first place. Ultimately, age restrictions are
always necessary.
To begin with, age restrictions act as a guide for young people. The large majority of
youths aren't mature enough to handle certain activities and products. For instance,
underage drinking could cause irreversible damage to their bodies, especially when
consumed without moderation. This tends to be the case as young people experiment with
alcohol and, under the guise of "finding their limit," tend to drink copious amounts of it,
pushing thousands of youths into liver and kidney failure. Sadly, some even die from it.
Thus, it may be argued that by setting age restrictions, youths are being protected from
the dangers of abusing such substances.
However, it can be said that the age restrictions are useless (and thereby unnecessary)
because youths will ignore them. Youths have many ways of faking their age to purchase
such products. Fake identification cards are easily accessible to youths and can be used
to purchase alcohol and spirits. The legal age in the UK to purchase alcohol is 18. With the
help of fake identification cards, the barrier posed by age restrictions is overcome. The
same can be said for X-rated films. With everything now available on streaming platforms
such as Netflix and Hulu, it is even easier for teenagers to lie about their age because no
proof is required. Just typing in a suitable year of birth to bypass the programmed
minimum age will lead youths to content that they are too young and immature for. Hence,
because the barrier posed by age restrictions can be easily overcome, it may be argued
that there is no need for it.
Furthermore, age restrictions have many loopholes. For instance, in the UK, the legal
minimum age to purchase alcohol is 18. This means that it is legal for someone over the
age of 18 to purchase alcohol and give it to someone who is underage. However, by
increasing the age restriction from 18 to New York’s minimum of 21, an additional 4 (or
more) years of separation will increase the difficulty level for a 14 to 17-year-old to get
their hands on alcohol. If the drinking age is 18, it would be even more likely that a 14 to
17-year-old would have someone in their immediate network purchase liquor for them.
Thus, a higher age restriction can improve its effectiveness, thereby making age
restrictions necessary.
On the other hand, age restrictions make things like possession of alcohol and the use of
fake IDs illegal, consequently allowing law-breaking youths to be punished by the state.
Punishments range from a fine to serving time in a detention centre or jail. This has
serious consequences because youth will miss school, and their employment prospects
upon release will be limited due to the stigma associated with convicts. This may
imposed on young people. Evaluate whether these are always necessary.
Cambridge AS-Level English General Paper (8021) Specimen Paper 1 2019 (784 words)
In our modern-day society, there are clear distinctions made between what youths can't do
and what adults can do. These distinctions are primarily made by means of age
restrictions on certain activities such as drinking alcohol, smoking, watching certain films,
etc. However, these restrictions aren't always fully effective, thereby prompting an
evaluation of the need for minimum ages in the first place. Ultimately, age restrictions are
always necessary.
To begin with, age restrictions act as a guide for young people. The large majority of
youths aren't mature enough to handle certain activities and products. For instance,
underage drinking could cause irreversible damage to their bodies, especially when
consumed without moderation. This tends to be the case as young people experiment with
alcohol and, under the guise of "finding their limit," tend to drink copious amounts of it,
pushing thousands of youths into liver and kidney failure. Sadly, some even die from it.
Thus, it may be argued that by setting age restrictions, youths are being protected from
the dangers of abusing such substances.
However, it can be said that the age restrictions are useless (and thereby unnecessary)
because youths will ignore them. Youths have many ways of faking their age to purchase
such products. Fake identification cards are easily accessible to youths and can be used
to purchase alcohol and spirits. The legal age in the UK to purchase alcohol is 18. With the
help of fake identification cards, the barrier posed by age restrictions is overcome. The
same can be said for X-rated films. With everything now available on streaming platforms
such as Netflix and Hulu, it is even easier for teenagers to lie about their age because no
proof is required. Just typing in a suitable year of birth to bypass the programmed
minimum age will lead youths to content that they are too young and immature for. Hence,
because the barrier posed by age restrictions can be easily overcome, it may be argued
that there is no need for it.
Furthermore, age restrictions have many loopholes. For instance, in the UK, the legal
minimum age to purchase alcohol is 18. This means that it is legal for someone over the
age of 18 to purchase alcohol and give it to someone who is underage. However, by
increasing the age restriction from 18 to New York’s minimum of 21, an additional 4 (or
more) years of separation will increase the difficulty level for a 14 to 17-year-old to get
their hands on alcohol. If the drinking age is 18, it would be even more likely that a 14 to
17-year-old would have someone in their immediate network purchase liquor for them.
Thus, a higher age restriction can improve its effectiveness, thereby making age
restrictions necessary.
On the other hand, age restrictions make things like possession of alcohol and the use of
fake IDs illegal, consequently allowing law-breaking youths to be punished by the state.
Punishments range from a fine to serving time in a detention centre or jail. This has
serious consequences because youth will miss school, and their employment prospects
upon release will be limited due to the stigma associated with convicts. This may
